Skip to main content
Log in

The simultaneous truel

  • Papers
  • Published:
International Journal of Game Theory Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The simultaneous truel is a three-person game which is a generalization of the simple duel. The players' positions are fixed and their firing is simultaneous. Each player's only decision is which of his opponents will be his target. The (simultaneous) firing continues until there is at most one survivor or until all survivors have fired a specified number of times. Each player is assumed to be concerned only with his own survival; he is indifferent to the fate of his opponents. These games (parametrized by the maximum possible number of shots by each player) are examined for equilibrium points. It is found that, in many cases, the truel has a unique equilibrium point at which the player who is the poorest marksman has the greatest chance of survival.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Fink, A. M.: Equilibrium in a Stochasticn-Person Game. Journal of Science of the Hiroshima University, Series A-I,28, 89–93, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, M.: Mathematical Games. Scientific American, 103, August 1958.

  • Shapley, L. S.: Stochastic Games. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,39, No. 11, 1095–1100, 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shubik, M.: Does the Fittest Necessarily Survive?, fromM. Shubik (ed.). Readings in Game Theory and Political Behavior, Doubleday & Co., Garden City, N. Y. 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi, M.: Equilibrium Points of Stochastic Non-Cooperativen-Person Games. Journal of Science of the Hiroshima University, Series A-I,28, 95–99, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kilgour, D.M. The simultaneous truel. Int J Game Theory 1, 229–242 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01753447

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01753447

Keywords

Navigation